Rack Slide System

ABSTRACT

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a rack slide system comprising an elongated supporting structure and a plurality of mobile racks mounted on the elongated supporting structure in side-by-side relation for movement along a controlled path, where the length of the path exceeds by a predetermined amount the sum of the depths of the mobile racks to provide at least one gap between selected ones of the mobile racks.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of, and claims priority to, co-pendingU.S. patent application entitled “A RACK SLIDE SYSTEM,” filed on Dec.27, 2010, and assigned application Ser. No. 12/979,005, which isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Data centers have been experiencing problems with heat for severalyears. In data centers and computer rooms, computer hardware isinstalled in computer racks and cabinets. Generally, computer racks arelined up in alternating rows with cold-air intakes all facing one aisle(a cold aisle) and hot-air exhausts all facing another aisle (a hotaisle). One potential problem is hardware that features side-to-sideventilation having a right-to-left airflow pattern does not match upwith the layout of the cold and hot aisles, since the layout is designedfor a front-to-back airflow pattern or ventilation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the present disclosure can be better understood withreference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings arenot necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearlyillustrating the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, in thedrawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding partsthroughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is a diagram depicting a front view of one embodiment of anetwork room rack slide system in accordance with the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 2 is a diagram depicting an embodiment of the network rack railsystem of FIG. 1 having additional network racks according to anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a diagram depicting an embodiment of the network rack railsystem of FIG. 1 having additional network racks, where a workspace iscreated according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a diagram of comparison models of various network room layoutsfor racks housing equipment with side-to-side ventilation including thesystem of FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart diagram describing an embodiment of a method ofadjusting a workspace within a row of mobile network racks in accordancewith FIG. 4 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With computer servers and other computer hardware, front-to-back coolingairflow has generally been the standard. However, a majority of networkvendors that provide solutions for the growing demand of port densityare now using side-to-side cooling airflow as a standard. Thisside-to-side cooling method has never really been adopted in the datacenters and network rooms, since it breaks away from thestandard/traditional front-to-back cooling that is utilized with mostserver vendors, where ambient air is drawn in for cooling from the frontand heated exhaust air is discharged to the rear.

However, some vendors have adopted side-to-side cooling airflow in theircomputer products. For example, Cisco has been using side-to-sidecooling with the introduction of the 5K series switch and later in the4K, 5K, 6K, and 7K series routers and switches.

Regarding these concerns, FIG. 1 is a diagram depicting a front view ofone embodiment of a network room rack slide system 100 in accordancewith the present disclosure. Here, the network racks 110, 120 within anetwork room or data center are turned 90 degrees and placed on anelongated supporting structure 130 (e.g., slide rail system, guiderails, rail tracks, etc.). The network racks 110, 120 contain networkgear or equipment 115, 125 that uses side-to-side cooling. The networkracks 110, 120 (e.g., 54 RMU racks) are then secured to the elongatedsupporting structure 130 which contains dampening control to avoidabrupt movements and remove the possibility of hardware damage. In oneembodiment, an aisle containment curtain 140 may be hung on a pole ortrack, or the like, above the network racks and moved to the left orright, as needed, when relative positions of network racks 110, 120changes. The aisle containment curtain 140 fits in between the gap oftwo neighboring racks 110, 120 and is adjustable to accommodate a gap ofany size. In one embodiment, the aisle containment curtain 140 is madeof fire resistant plastic or vinyl. The curtain 140 is part of a hotaisle containment system.

With regard to the term “rack mounting units” or “RMU,” it is well knownthat the vertical dimension of equipment enclosures is frequentlymeasured in standardized units. The most common unit of measurement isthe “rack mounting unit” (“RMU”). According to accepted standards, anRMU is defined as 1.75 inches in height. Electrical components as wellas accessories, which include horizontal raceways, patch panels, and thelike, are also commonly measured in RMUs. For example, a 2 RMU componentis one which is 3.50 inches or less in height. Thus, a rack which has 54RMUs may accommodate components and accessories totaling 54 RMUs.Further, to conserve space, components and accessories are frequentlyinstalled only at vertical locations corresponding to a whole number ofRMUs in order to avoid interfering with adjacent components andaccessories.

Embodiments of the network room rack slide system 100 create true hotand cold aisles in a network room featuring side-to-side coolingequipment 115, 125. Generally, cooling comes from floor in front of theracks 110, 120, such as through a raised floor (e.g., having perforatedtiles) in front of the rack 110, 120. Cool air is drawn through theequipment 115, 125 and exhausted out to the next aisle behind it, whichis the hot aisle. In accordance with an embodiment of the presentdisclosure, for equipment having side-to-side ventilation, racks 110,120 are turned 90 degrees so that the side of the equipment 115, 125that has intake vents or inlets faces a cold aisle in a network room andthe side of the equipment that has exhaust vents faces a hot aisle inthe network room. This is more efficient for the facility. Another keyfactor with the network room slack slide system 100 is the efficientutilization of space within the network room. By placing network racks110, 120 on an elongated supporting structure, such as slide rails orguide rails, the network racks 110, 120 can be moved in close proximityof one another and moved around, when necessary, to create workspace formaintaining or configuring a particular network rack 110, 120 and itsmounted equipment 115, 125. In one embodiment, no one rack can move anydistance greater than an entire rack length. This provides enough roomfor data center operations (DCO) personnel to add/remove network cardsand manage cabling for new installs.

Accordingly, one rack space is maintained on the network room rack slidesystem 100 to provide working space between a particular rack 110 and aneighboring rack 120 for any one of the racks by moving racks up anddown the network room slide system 100. When the racks 110, 120 aremoved in close proximity to one another on the elongated supportingsystem 130, the network rack space (“work space”) exists at the end ofthe support (e.g., slide rail) opposite to the end containing the firstrack in the line of network racks.

To illustrate, FIG. 2 is a diagram depicting an embodiment of thenetwork rack slide rail system with additional racks shown on theelongated supporting system 130. In FIG. 2, mobile network racks 110,120, 132, 142 house electronic equipment 115, 125, 135, 145respectively. The aisle containment curtain 140 (FIG. 1) is not shown inFIG. 2, although it may be employed with the system, in someembodiments.

In this illustration, there are four network racks turned so that thesides of the racks are oriented towards the viewer of the figure. Note,in one general implementation of a network room or data center floor,the room contains a raised floor which can be from 2 to 5 feet high. Theraised floor provides the plenum for pumping cold air into a cold aislein front of the network racks.

To accommodate the network rack rail system 100 (FIG. 1) in this type ofenvironment, one implementation, in accordance with the presentdisclosure, installs a large metal box frame 210 in the subfloor withslide rails 220 built on top of this structure. The box frame supportsthe weight of the structures and equipment above it. Slide plates 250(made of metal or other sturdy structure) are mounted to the rail 220and fixed to the racks 110, 120, 132, 142. The slide rail tracks 220 andthe slide plates 250 mate with each other to form a slide rail thatworks together to move the network rack(s). For example, in oneembodiment, the slide rail system includes an inside slide plate 250 andan outside slide rail track 220 such that the network rack is able tomove through cooperation of the outside slide rail track 220 and theinside slide plate 250.

In one embodiment, spring-loaded pins 240 are used to lock the rack inplace within its position on the slide rail tracks 220. For example,predrilled holes may be contained in the rails for inserting thespring-loaded pins 240. The slide rails themselves have balls, rollers,or bearings that mount and clamp on top and bottom of the slide railtracks 220. The slide plates 250 mount to those bearings, etc.

Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described as being appliedto, but not limited to, manually movable wheeled network racks.Referring to FIG. 2, four movable network racks 110, 120, 132, 142 eachconsisting of a top frame, a bottom frame, and opposed side frames aremovable along slide rails 130, 220 on the subfloor 205 in a network roomor the like. Each of the movable network racks 110, 120, 132, 142 ismovable in either direction when an operator asserts a force against therack. A variety of slide rail systems may be utilized in accordance withthe present disclosure, and embodiments of the present disclosure arenot limited to those described and shown with respect to the figures, asunderstood by one of ordinary skill in the art.

In one arrangement of a network room in accordance with the network rackslide system 100, cable trays 255 extend over the network racks 110,120, 132, 142 along a length of the slide rails 220. Network cables 116,126, 136, 146 run down cable trays 255 to the network racks 110, 120,132, 142. In a network room or data center without a network rack slidesystem, the network cables would be installed to drop from the cabletray and connect to vertical cable managers attached to the networkracks.

With the network rack slide system 100, since the network racks 110,120, 132, 142 are moving along a length of the slide rail tracks 220, acable management pulley system 268 is deployed to allow for movement ofthe network cable 116, 126, 136, 146 connected to the moving networkrack 110, 120, 132, 142. A ladder rack system may be used and employedoverhead of the slide rail tracks 220 in addition or in concert with thecable trays 255 to provide support for the cable management pulleysystem 268.

In one embodiment of the cable management pulley system 268, a drawstring or cord 265 is attached to the network cable 116, 126, 136, 146and wrapped around a tension pulley 260 that is part of the cablemanagement pulley system 268. The tension pulley 260 is spring loaded toretrieve a certain amount of slack in the network cable 116, 126, 136,146 when tension is not being applied to the network cable 116, 126,136, 146 attributed to the network cable being moved away from the cablemanagement pulley system 268. When the network rack 110, 120, 132, 142is positioned close to the cable management pulley system 268, a slackloop 270 is allowed to form by the cable management pulley system 268without allowing the network cable 116, 126, 136, 146 to droop or extenddown on the network rack 110, 120, 132, 142. When the network rack 110,120, 132, 142 is moved on the slide rail, the pulley 260 allows thenetwork cable 116, 126, 136, 146 to move one way or another whilepreventing excess slack in the network cable line 116, 126, 136, 146.The cable management pulley system 268 provides flexibility in fiber andcopper slack for movement of the network rack slide system 100.

As shown in FIG. 3, separate from the cable management pulley system268, an overhead power distribution system 316, 326, 336, 346 may alsobe used to route power cables and cords 317, 327, 337, 347 to theequipment 115, 125, 135, 145 housed in the network racks 110, 120, 132,142. In one embodiment, the overhead power distribution system 316, 326,336, 346 may include a retractable power cord management pulley thatprovides tension to a power cord 317, 327, 337, 347 and createsmanageable slack in the power cable 317, 327, 337, 347 enabling thenetwork rack 110, 120, 132, 142 to move any direction on the slide rails(similar in concept to the cable management pulley system 268). Thepower cord management pulley 318 is shown extending from the overheadpower distribution system 316, which may be secured to a frame extendinga length of the slide rail tracks 220. A power cable 317, 327, 337, 347plugs into the power distribution system 316, 326, 336, 346. The powercable 317, 327, 337, 347 is from the equipment 115, 125, 135, 145 housedin the network rack 110, 120, 132, 142. In accordance with the presentdisclosure, if a particular network rack 110 at the far right of thenetwork rack slide system 100 shown in FIG. 3 needs to be worked upon insome manner, the particular network rack 110 may be moved over in animplementation where extra space exists at the end next to the networkrack 110. Otherwise, in a different implementation where extra spaceexists at the opposite end, the other network racks 120, 132, 142 may bemoved over, and the particular network rack 110 may stay at its currentposition. Therefore, a workspace 300 is created next to the particularnetwork rack 110. In this way, workspace can be created in between anyone of the racks that is on the slide rails track 220.

It is noted that a bumper 310 is provided at the end of each rack 110,120, 132, 142 to allow for a certain amount of space at the end of eachrack 110, 120, 132, 142 and to provide a cushion against an impact(e.g., hitting a neighboring rack). The bumper 310 also provides forspace that allows network cables to come from the front of equipmentmounted in a network rack and be routed to avoid possible entanglements.In one embodiment, the bumper 310 is composed of a hard rubber thatprovides a resilient surface to impact forces. To avoid equipment 115,125 within racks sandwiching against one another on the slide rails andpossibly damaging network cables, the bumpers 310 assure a minimumamount of space for the cables and provide protection against impactwith other racks or other equipment. In some embodiments, a verticalcable management rack is provided on the network racks themselves tocontrol and manage routing of network racks to the housed equipment.Accordingly, the bumper 310 helps provide space to be routed to thevertical cable management rack.

Referring now to FIG. 4, comparison models of various network roomlayouts for racks housing equipment with side-to-side ventilation areshown. On the left of the figure (Arrangement A), four network racks A1,A2, A3, A4 housing equipment with side-to-side ventilation are shown,where a front of the equipment is facing a cold aisle and the rear ofthe equipment is facing a hot aisle. Since the right side of theequipment is the intake side and the left side is the exhaust side, theequipment is not going to be intaking air from the cold air aisle andexhausting air to the hot aisle without supplemental assistance.Accordingly, ventilation channels V1, V2 are provided next to the racksA1, A2, A3, A4 to direct intake air from the cold aisle to the intakevents of the equipment and to direct exhaust air from the exhaust ventsof the equipment to the hot aisle within the network room. Let's assumethat the network racks A1, A2, A3, A4 are 54 RMU racks and that anindividual piece of equipment being housed in the rack is 25 RMU highand has a 20.3″×29″ footprint. Then, the racks A1, A2, A3, A4 can house2 pieces of equipment but not much room for anything else. Therefore,separate racks A5, A6, A7 are used to house network cable patch panelsto terminate fiber/copper for the housed equipment. For a standard widthof 20.3 inches for the network racks A1, A2, A3, A4 and a width of 12inches together (or 6 inches individually) for the two channels V2between neighboring racks A1, A2, a total length (L1) of thisarrangement exceeds 226 inches.

Next, consider the arrangement (Arrangement C) at the right of thefigure. In this arrangement, 4 racks C1, C2, C3, C4 are turned 90degrees so that the intake vents on the side of the equipment (utilizingside-to-side cooling) face a cold aisle and the exhaust vents face a hotaisle. Assume the racks C1, C2, C3, C4 are mounted with L-brackets (L)to the floor and a 34 inch workspace (WS) is preserved next to each rackC1, C2, C3, C4. For this arrangement, the total length (L3) of a row ofracks is approximately 266 feet (taking into account that the dimensionsof the L-brackets will extend the footprint of the network racks). Forexample, the footprint of a network rack C1, C2, C3, C4 may extend from34 inches to 41 inches after being secured with L-brackets (L) to theunderlying floor.

Now, consider the arrangement (Arrangement B) at the center of thefigure which utilizes an embodiment of the network rack slide system 100(FIG. 1) in accordance with the present disclosure. In this arrangement,4 racks B1, B2, B3, B4 are turned 90 degrees so that the intake vents onthe side of the equipment (utilizing side-to-side cooling) face a coldaisle and the exhaust vents face a hot aisle. By turning the rack 90degrees, a need for external ventilation channels as used in thearrangement A on the left side of the figure is eliminated. The internalintake fans of the housed equipment are now on the cold side and willexhaust out to the hot aisle. With the racks B1, B2, B3, B4 turnedsideways, a aisle containment curtain 140 (FIG. 1) may be used tosegregate the hot and cold aisles to facilitate hot aisle containment.In one embodiment, the curtain would go over the top and on the sides ofthe hot aisle.

Let's assume the footprint of the network rack is 20.3″×34″ whichincludes 3″ bumpers (BU) on one side. It is noted by putting the networkracks B1, B2, B3, B4 on a network rack slide rail system 100, the racksB1, B2, B3, B4 may be condensed together (save for a bumper BU) and atthe end of the row, a gap of 34 inches (which is the depth of thenetwork rack) is preserved. Therefore, instead of 34 inches between eachrack B1, B2, B3, B4 (as shown in arrangement C on the right), a singlespace with 34 inches is formed on the network rack slide system 100which allows racks B1, B2, B3, B4 to move up or down the slide railtracks 130 to create a workspace (WS of 34 inches) in between. For thisarrangement, the total length (L2) of a row of racks and the single workspace exceeds 204 feet.

From these comparisons, the center arrangement is significantly lessthan the arrangement on the right and the arrangement on the left.Further, in one embodiment, given the network racks are turned 90degrees, one has the option to side-mount fiber distribution boxes without taking up additional “true rack row” space.

Referring now to FIG. 5, a flow chart diagram describing an embodimentof a method of adjusting a workspace within a row of mobile networkracks is depicted. The method includes mounting (510) a plurality ofnetwork racks 110, 120, 132, 142 (FIGS. 1-3) housing electronicequipment on an elongated supporting structure 130 (FIG. 1). Theplurality of mobile racks 110, 120, 132, 142 are mounted on theelongated supporting structure 130 in side-by-side relation for movementalong a controlled path, where the length of the path exceeds by apredetermined amount the sum of the depths of the mobile racks 110, 120,132, 142 to provide at least one gap between selected ones of the mobileracks 110, 120, 132, 142. Accordingly, the plurality of mobile racks110, 120, 132, 142 are oriented (520) on the elongated supportingstructure 130 to align with the intake ventilation of the electronicequipment 115, 125, 135, 145 (FIG. 3) receiving air from a cold aisleand exhaust ventilation of the electronic equipment 115, 125, 135, 145blowing air out into a hot aisle of a network room.

The method further includes moving (530) the plurality of network racks115, 125, 135, 145 along the elongated supporting structure 130 toprovide at least one gap of workspace next to a network rack 110 ofinterest (e.g., the network rack may need servicing). In one embodiment,a footprint of at least one gap is equivalent to a footprint of a mobilenetwork rack. Further, an amount of slack in a network cable 116 (FIG.2) configured to electronic equipment 115 housed in one of the pluralityof mobile racks 110 is regulated (540), while a rack housing theelectronic equipment is being moved. The length of network cable 116provided to the network rack 110 may allow the network rack 110 to moveany distance that does not exceed an entire rack depth-length along theelongated supporting structure 130. Similarly, an amount of slack in apower cord 317 (FIG. 3) configured to electronic equipment 115 (FIG. 3)housed in one of the plurality of mobile racks 110 is regulated (550),while the rack housing the electronic equipment is being moved.

It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments of thepresent disclosure are merely possible examples of implementations,merely set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of thepresent disclosure. Thus, for example, any sequence(s) and/or temporalorder of steps of various processes or methods that are described hereinare illustrative and not restrictive. Accordingly, it should beunderstood that, although steps of various processes or methods may beshown and described as being in a sequence or temporal order, the stepsof any such processes or methods are not limited to being carried out inany particular sequence or order, absent an indication otherwise.Indeed, the steps in such processes or methods generally may be carriedout in various different sequences and orders while still falling withinthe scope of the present disclosure.

One should also note that conditional language, such as, among others,“can,” “could,” “might,” or “may,” unless specifically stated otherwise,or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generallyintended to convey that certain embodiments include, while otherembodiments do not include, certain features, elements and/or steps.Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply thatfeatures, elements and/or steps are in any way required for one or moreparticular embodiments or that one or more particular embodimentsnecessarily include logic for deciding, with or without user input orprompting, whether these features, elements and/or steps are included orare to be performed in any particular embodiment.

Accordingly, it is intended that the scope of patent protection affordedthe present disclosure is to be defined by the appended claims ratherthan the description set forth herein. Many variations and modificationsmay be made to the above-described embodiment(s) without departingsubstantially from the spirit and principles of the present disclosure.All such modifications and variations are intended to be included hereinwithin the scope of this disclosure and protected by the followingclaims.

Therefore, having thus described embodiments of the present disclosure,at least the following is claimed:
 1. A method of adjusting a workspacewithin a row of mobile racks comprising: mounting a plurality of mobileracks on an elongated supporting structure in side-by-side relation formovement along a controlled path, a length of the controlled pathexceeding by a predetermined amount a sum of depths of the plurality ofmobile racks to provide at least one gap of workspace between selectedones of the plurality of mobile racks; and sliding one of the mobileracks along the elongated supporting structure to provide the at leastone gap of workspace next to a particular one of the mobile racks. 2.The method of claim 1, wherein the sliding of one of the mobile racks isfacilitated by pushing the plurality of mobile racks along the elongatedsupporting structure.
 3. The method of claim 2, further comprisingsecuring the plurality of mobile racks to slide plates having rollersfor transport along the elongated supporting structure.
 4. The method ofclaim 1, wherein a footprint of the at least one gap of workspace isequivalent to a footprint of the one of the mobile racks.
 5. The methodof claim 1, wherein a footprint of the at least one gap of workspace isequivalent to or greater than a footprint of the one of the mobileracks.
 6. The method of claim 1, further comprising regulating an amountof slack in a network cable configured to electronic equipment housed inthe one of the mobile racks while the one of the mobile racks is inmovement.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein a length of network cable isprovided to the one of the mobile racks that allows the one of themobile racks to move any distance that does not exceed an entire rackdepth-length along the elongated supporting structure.
 8. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the plurality of mobile racks houses electronicequipment having side-to-side airflow ventilation, the method furthercomprising orienting the plurality of mobile racks on the elongatedsupporting structure to align with an intake ventilation of theelectronic equipment receiving air from a cold aisle and exhaustventilation of the electronic equipment blowing air out into a hotaisle.
 9. The method of claim 8, further comprising segregating the hotand cold aisles to facilitate hot aisle containment between adjacentmobile racks on the elongated supporting structure.
 10. The method ofclaim 9, wherein an aisle containment curtain is employed to segregatethe hot and cold aisles and is adjustable to accommodate a size of theat least one gap of workspace.
 11. The method of claim 8, furthercomprising directing cold air into the cold aisle from underneath afloor on which the elongated supporting structure is supported.
 12. Themethod of claim 8, wherein an individual respective one of the pluralityof mobile racks has a front, a back, and two sides with side-to-sideairflow ventilation and is oriented on the elongated supportingstructure to enable an intake ventilation of the electronic equipment toreceive air from a cold aisle and an exhaust ventilation of theelectronic equipment to blow air out into a hot aisle.
 13. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising regulating an amount of slack in a powercord coupled to electronic equipment housed in the one of the mobileracks while the one of the mobile racks is in movement.
 14. The methodof claim 13, wherein a tension pulley that is spring loaded is employedto regulate the amount of slack in the power cord.
 15. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the at least one gap of workspace comprises a singlegap, wherein a footprint of the single gap is equivalent to a footprintof the one of the mobile racks.
 16. A method of adjusting a workspacewithin a row of mobile racks comprising: orienting a plurality of mobileracks on an elongated supporting structure to align with an intakeventilation of electronic equipment receiving air from a cold aisle andexhaust ventilation of the electronic equipment blowing air into a hotaisle, wherein the plurality of mobile racks houses the electronicequipment having side-to-side airflow ventilation; mounting theplurality of mobile racks on the elongated supporting structure inside-by-side relation for movement along a controlled path, a length ofthe controlled path exceeding by a predetermined amount a sum of depthsof the plurality of mobile racks to provide one gap of workspace betweenselected ones of the plurality of mobile racks; and enabling sliding ofthe plurality of mobile racks along the elongated supporting structureto provide the one gap of workspace next to a mobile rack that is ofinterest.
 17. The method of claim 16, further comprising regulating anamount of slack in a network cable configured to the electronicequipment housed in the mobile rack while a particular mobile rack is inmovement, wherein a length of network cable is provided to theparticular mobile rack that allows the particular mobile rack to moveany distance that does not exceed an entire rack depth-length along theelongated supporting structure.
 18. The method of claim 16, furthercomprising segregating the hot and cold aisles to facilitate hot aislecontainment between adjacent mobile racks on the elongated supportingstructure.
 19. The method of claim 16, further comprising regulating anamount of slack in a power cord coupled to the electronic equipmenthoused in a particular mobile rack while the particular mobile rack isin movement.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein a tension pulley thatis spring loaded is employed to regulate the amount of slack in thepower cord.